Ohio Derby features eight

Stakes winners PINPOINT (Peaks and Valleys) and MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades)

highlight a field of eight sophomores entered for Saturday's $350,000 Ohio Derby

(G2) at Thistledown. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Nick Zito will send out

Pinpoint, who captured the Sir Barton S. prior to an unplaced finish in the

Belmont S. (G1) last out, and the dark bay colt will be re-united with jockey

Larry Melancon. Magna Graduate, winner of the John Battaglia Memorial S. earlier

this year, will make his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher and be ridden by

Gary Stevens.

Canadian Grade 3 winner UNBRIDLED ENERGY (Unbridled's Song), who exits a

commendable runner-up finish to Don't Get Mad (Stephen Got Even) in the Northern

Dancer Breeders' Cup S. (G3) at Churchill Downs, is another top contender and is

trained by Elliott Walden, who recently announced he will give become vice president for WinStar Farm. Grade 3 hero STRAIGHT LINE

(Boundary) also figures to generate support in the 1 1/8-mile event.

The contestants, from the rail with riders, are Unbridled Energy, Richard

Migliore; Magna Graduate; SILVER HAZE (Silver Deputy), Elvis Perrodin; IT'S TIME

TO SMILE (OPS Smile), Scott Spieth; PALLADIO (Lycius), Richard Anthony dos

Ramos; Straight Line, Chris Emigh; Pinpoint; and HAL'S IMAGE (Halo's Image),

Carlos Olivero.

All starters will carry 115 pounds except Silver Haze and It's Time to Smile,

who both tote 112.